Clamp



C. H. SCHUB.

- CLAMP. APPLICATION FILED NOV-13, 1917. RENEWED FEB. 19. I920.

1,850,084, Patented Aug 17, 19.26%

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

umumm c. H. SCHUBf CLAMP.

NOV. 13, 1917. RENEWED FEB. 19.1920.

Patented Aug. 1920.

2 SHEET ET 2.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. SCHUB, OF NEW YORK, N, Y.

CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 13, 1917, Serial No. 201,806. RenewedFebruary 19, 1920. Serial No. 359,850.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLns H. SoHUB, acitizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, boroughof Manhattan, county and State of New York, have invented a certain newand useful Clamp, of which the following is a,specification.

This invention is an improved clamp adapted for general application, butprimarily intended for use in deta'chabl securing together the sectionalunits 0 the metallic molds employed in the molding of concretestructures.

In the formation of, concrete structures, both plain and reinforced,metallic mold sections have been employed, which mold sections areseparate and independent of one another and form units adapted to bedetachably secured together in various combinations, with reference toboth the shape and size of the units, to form retaining walls withinwhich the concrete is introduced. After the concrete has set, the moldsare removed and the walls of the structure properly faced. In theformation of concrete structures in the manner described, it isdesirable, if not essential, that the faces of adjacent units which comeinto contact with the finished work lie in the same plane, or at leastbe flush with one another, so that the wall of said finished work willbe continuous except, of course, at corners or offsets. It is, moreover,necessary in the employment of sectional metallic molds that the severalmold elements be so assembled as to be readily detachable, in order toexpeditiously prepare and position them for the reception of theconcrete and, after the concrete has solidified, to quickly dismantlethem.

With the foregoing considerations in mind, the principal object of thepresent invention is to provide a clamp, by means of which metallic moldsections ma be detachably secured together in assem led relation in asimple, expeditions and economical manner, and in such position relativeto one another that the inner walls of adjacent sections, except atcorners or off-sets will come flush with one another and W111 be held inassembled position with intermediate tight or impervious joints.

A salient feature of the invention is to provide a clamp which may bebrought into engagement with two adjacent sections and forced intoclamping position to draw the sections tightly into registration throughthe manipulation of said clamp by one hand only, thereby rendering theother hand of the workman available for positioning one or both of saidsections and steadying them during the application of the clamp.

A further object of the invention is to providea clamp which is ofunitary structure; that is to say, a clamp wherein all the parts thereofare rigid and preferably integral, so that no part of the clamp is freeto become detached and lost, all of the parts constituting one integral,rigid element adapted to operate on the work to be done without lostmotion and with precision and despatch.

In its preferred form, the clamp of this invention embodies an integralcast or dropforged element provided with a fulcrum pin adapted to beinserted into, or passed through, the registering apertures with whichmold plates are provided, when two of said plates are brought intoabutting relation. A handle is provided by means of which the clamp maybe oscillated on its fulcrum pin, and, intermediate the handle portionand fulcrum pin, the clamp has formed therein a conver ing slotpositioned between a pair of beve ed lips which are adapted to straddlethe flanges of adjacent mold sections when the clamp is pivoted to bringsaid flanges between the beveled lips. Because of the beveled characterof the li s and the constricted base of the slot, t e forcing of theclamp into this position will cause the flanges to be forced togetherinto tight,'face-abutting relation, resulting in a tight joint betweenthe adjacent mold sections, By retrograde pivotal movement of the clamp,the flanges of the mold sections are freed from the embrace of said lipsto allow of the ready detachment of the clamp.

The fulcrum pin is preferabl non-circular in cross-section so as to alow'it to be freely inserted into the substantially registering aperturesof the mold sections, but,

when the clamp is moved into clamping position, the pin 1s rotatedwithin said apertures to present the broadest dimension transversely ofthe apertures, whereby, by virtue of the cam action exerted, a perfectalinement of the apertures is effected. This results in the accuratealinement of the inner faces of the mold, sections, for the rec-- sonthat said apertures are spaced at a fixed distance from the faces to bealined. It is thus apparent that the one-piece rigid clamp of thisinvention may be easily and effectively manipulated by one hand tosimultaneously and automatically bring the faces of adjacent moldsections flush, clamp them rigidly together, and form a tight jointbetween them.

Features of the invention, other than those specified, as well as theadvantages thereof, will be apparent from the hereinafter detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one practical embodimentof the invention, but the construction therein shown is to be understoodas illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a clamp embodying the presentinvention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of said clamp.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the clamp.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation thereof.

Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective views showing fragmental portions ofadjacent mold sections with the clamp of the present invention inclamping position thereon, and illustrating the clamp as it appears fromopposite sides thereof.

Fig. 7 shows the method of initially applying the clamp.

Fig. 8 shows the clamp after havin been moved to clamping position. 7

The clamp, which is shown in detail in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, ispreferably made in the form of a casting or forging. It embodies ahandle portion A of any suitable shape or configuration, immediatelyadjacent one end of which the casting is broadened out and bifurcatedlongitudinally to form a pair of substantially parallel lips B. Theouter faces of said lips may be flat and parallel as shown, or may berounded over, without particularly affecting the operation of the clamp.The inner or adjacent faces, however, are beveled as shown, so as toprovide, intermediate said faces, a tapering slot C having a relativelywide mouth and a comparatively constricted base.

Gne of the lips projects beyond the end of the other, as at D, andcarries thereon a post or nin E, hereinafter termed the fulcrum pinbecause of the particular function which it performs. It will be notedthat pin E is provided with flattened sides 6, so that it isnon-circular in cross-section. When considering the clamp as a whole, itmay be said that the handle portion A extends ofl at an angle from theremainder of the clamp, and the clamp is so constructed for economy inmaterial, strength and ease of manipulation, as will clearly appear fromFigs. 5 to 8, inclusive.

In said figures, F and F designate two adjacent metallic mold sectionswhich are shown as provided with peripheral flanges f f. These flangesmay be made either in tegral with the section F F, or may be in the formof angle-irons riveted or welded thereto, this forming no part of thepresent invention. The mold sections, which are stock units, are eachprovided with apertures g correspondingly positioned in their flanges,and the apertures in the flanges of all sections are so placed that,when two sections are brought into edge-abutting relation, the aperturesg of said, sections will register. It is with flanges f f and theapertures g therein that the clamp of this invention is adapted tocooperate for the purpose of securing adjacent sections rigidly andtightly together.

The manner of applying the clamp 15 shown best in Figs. 7 and 8. Aftertwo sections have been placed in face-abutting relation, with theirapertures g in registration, a clamp is picked up and carried to theposition shown in Fig. 7. This positioning of the clamp having beenaccom-' plished, bodily lateral movement is imparted thereto for thepurpose of projecting the fulcrum pin E through the alined apertures g.This operation is facilitated by the flat sides 6 of said pin, which, byvirtue of their presence, render the dimensions of the pin considerablyless than the width of said apertures, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 7,

where marked clearance is shown. This having been accomplished, theclamp is forced downwardly, oscillating .on the pivot pin E, to partakeof the position shown in Fig. 8. During this operation, the lips B havebeen caused to embrace flanges f 7, at first loosely because of therelatively large, open mouth of the intermediate slot, and then tightlydue to the tapering character of the slot and its constricted base. Bythis operation, the flanges are wedged tightly 1 between the lips Bandare pressed together with great force. Simultaneously with thisoperation, fulcrum pin E is rotated in the apertures g to the positionof Fig. 8, wherein its greatest dimension extends transversely of saidapertures. The pin and apertures are so proportioned that the transversediameter of the apertures and the transverse diameter of the pin, whenin this position, will be substantially equal so that the lateral edgesof the apertures are in absolute registration at the conclusion of theclamping operation. Thus, even though the faces of the plates were notabsolutely flush at the beginning of the clamping operation, therotation of the pin E as described will cause a relative shiftingbetween them to bring said faces absolutely flush.

The clamp shown in side elevation in Fig. 8, in its clamping position,is shown in perspective in Figs. 5 and 6, as viewed from the oppositesides thereof. From this showing, the reason for forming the handleportion A at an angle to the remainder of the clamp will be obvious,since, when in clamping position, the handle will project outwardly andaway from the front edge of the flanges, so as to allow the same to bereadily grasped to rotate the clamp, in a retrograde direction, to theposition of Fig. 7, for the purpose of allowing of the removal thereofat the conclusion of the molding operation.

Throughout the foregoing detailed description of the clamp of thisinvention, it has been specifically.set forth as particularly adaptedfor employment or use in securing together metallic mold sections usedin the construction of concrete buildings or other structures. It willbe understood, however, that the clamp is adapted for general application and is not restricted to the art of concrete molding. The clampof the present invention is of great utility in securing togethermetallic molds of all kinds, such, for example, as are employed in thecasting of soap or other commodities which are poured hot, and in liquidstate, and are thereafter allowed to cool or solidify in molds. It will,of course. be manifest that, in adapting the invention to variousenvironments, slight modifications of the specific structure illustrated will be made from time to time, and it is, therefore, to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the specific structureshown and described, but that the same is as broadly novel as iscommensurate with the appended claims.

Of great importance in this invention is the fact that the clamp is soconstituted that, when forced into clamping position, it serves to clampthe flanges of the mold sections or plates tightly together andsimultaneously brings about perfect alinement between the plates. Thatis to say, the lips B force the flanges together to form a tight jointbetween successive mold sections, while the non-circular configurationof the pin E effects the alinement specified, so that the faces of theplates are absolutely flush. This saves considerable time which hasheretofore been wasted, since such alinement has generally been effectedby the use of a hammer which is employed to tap one plate and then theother until the correct alinement is accomplished.

In the foregoing description of the preferred form of clamp of thisinvention, fulcrum pin E has been described as non-circular incross-section. lVhen formed in this manner, the best results are,manifestly, obtainable. It will be understood, however, that pin E maybe made of different crosssections from that shown and may, in effect,be made circular without departing from the spirit of the invention.lVith a circular pin, many of the advantages of the invention areobtained, though the alining of the mold sections is not so efiicientlyaccom plished. that, while it is preferred to makev the pin non-circularas described, the invention is not specifically limited in this respect.

Having thus fully described the invention, what T claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a device of the character described, a pair of face-abuttingflanges each of which is provided with a slot positioned tosubstantially register with the other, in combination with a clampembodying a pair of rigid spaced lips providing an intermediate tapered,open-mouthed slot, and a pin of non-circular cross section, rigid withsaid lips, whereby the pin may be inserted into the substantiallyregistering apertures and provide a fulcrum about which the clamp may bepivoted to a position wherein the lips will embrace the flanges for thepurpose of clamping them tightly together, the rotation of thenon-circular pin in said apertures serving to simultaneously andautomatically bring the slots into perfect registration.

2. In a device of the character described, a pair of face-abuttingflanges each of which is provided with a slot positioned tosubstantially register with the other, in combination with a rigid onepiece integral clamp embodying a pair of spaced lips providing It will,therefore, be understood an intermediate tapered, reentrant mouth,

a pin of non-circular cross section extending transversely of the mouth,and in spaced relation thereto, and a handle for manipulating the clamp.

3. An integral one piece clamp embodying a pair of rigid lips spacedapart to vide an intermediate tapered, open-mouthed slot, and a pin ofnon-circular cross section integral with said lips and providing afulcrum about which the clamp be pivoted.

4:. A one piece clamp embodying integral casting formed at one end ahandle portion, provided at the other end with a laterally extending pinof non-circular cross section, and having formed termediate thereof apair of spaced, tapered lips providing an intermediate rt /entranttapered mouth.

5. An integral one piece clamp embodying a pair of rigid lips spacedapart to provide an intermediate tapered open-mouthed slot, and a pinintegral with said lips and providing a fulcrum about which the clampmay be pivoted.

6. A one piece clamp embodying an integral casting formed one end into ahandle portion, provided at the other end with a laterally extendingpin, and having formed intermediate thereof a pair f spaced, taperedlips providing an intermediate rentrant tapered mouth.

7. A device of the character described embodying a pair of face abuttingflanges, each of which is provided with a slot positioned tosubstantially register with the other, in combination with a clampassociated with the flanges and cooperating with the slots forautomatically clamping the flanges tightly together and simultaneouslybringing the slots into perfect registration.

8. A device of the character described embodying a pair of face abuttingflanges, each of which isprovided with a slot positioned' tosubstantially register with the other, in combination with a one piececlamp associated with the flanges and cooperating with the slots forautomatically clamping theflanges tightly together and simultaneouslybringing the slots into perfect registration.

9. In a device of the character described, a pair of face abuttingflanges and a clamp for clamping the flanges together and simultaneouslyshifting said flanges into correct registration with one another.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES H. SCHUB.

